The California wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding areas have already killed at least 24 people, destroyed more than 12,000 buildings, and burned more than 60 square miles. The flames are likely to do more damage in the coming days.
As the southern wildfires continue to spread and burn homes, buildings, automobiles and more, officials are warning residents of dangerous debris lurking amid the ash and rubble.
One of the dangers lurking in the debris is asbestos, which is a deadly carcinogen and the only cause of the rare and aggressive cancer mesothelioma. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer, a deadly disease called asbestosis, and lung tissue scarring.
Wildfires like these in California can disturb and release asbestos into the air – or trapped under debris to be kicked up into the air or on people’s clothes during clean-up efforts. Wind can also send asbestos toward unsuspecting residents or emergency responders who are battling the flames or leading evacuation efforts. This creates a hazard for both residents of the areas affected and firefighters and other emergency personnel responding to the fires.
How Are the California Wildfires Leading to Asbestos Exposure?
People living in Los Angeles are under evacuation orders to avoid the ravaging fires. The issue comes when they return to their homes – or where their homes once stood – to assess the damage. That’s when asbestos exposure could occur.
Asbestos is a natural mineral prized during the 20th century for its ability to resist heat and protect buildings from damage. Construction crews used asbestos in building walls, flooring, roof tiles, siding and more. It served as insulation around electrical wires, electrical boards and home appliances.
Asbestos was also incorporated in vehicle gaskets, brake linings and more automobile parts.
Homes and automobiles built during the 21st century don’t contain asbestos. Most industries have moved away from using the deadly mineral. However, older homes and vehicles are the issue.
Asbestos is harmless when it’s held intact inside of these building parts. It is durable and can keep its form for decades.
When homes or automobiles catch fire, though, the asbestos is disturbed. This can release stray fibers into the air or trap them in the debris from the fire. When fibers are inhaled or swallowed through this environmental asbestos exposure, they can get stuck in tissue linings. This leads to irritation of cells in the linings, which can lead to cancer.
Firefighters Face Asbestos Risk From California Fires
Firefighters and other emergency response personnel also face a risk of asbestos exposure from disasters like the California wildfires. Firefighters from southern California and elsewhere are grappling to get the wildfires under control. They work in close proximity to burning buildings, automobiles, and other structures possibly containing asbestos.
Firefighters are one of the top occupations for asbestos exposure. Firefighters responding to major fires – such as the ones in California – face an even higher risk.
To use the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City as an example, the World Trade Center buildings contained approximately 400 tons of asbestos. Firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center attacks were 19% more likely than other firefighters to develop cancer.
Warning California Residents to Protect Against Asbestos in Debris and Ash
Government officials and media outlets have warned residents in Los Angeles, Pasadena and more southern California areas of potential asbestos exposure. As residents return to assess the damage, they can be exposed. Clean-up efforts can make matters worse, causing exposure for workers or residents who breathe in or swallow the fibers.
The Pasadena Public Health Department urged residents to prevent ash exposure. The department warned of hazardous waste and particles in the ash, including asbestos.
ABC News Channel 7 reported that experts warned ash may contain asbestos, lead, arsenic and other harmful toxins.
The New York Times wrote, “In each of the thousands of ash piles where homes once stood, there are remnants of lives upended. But the photo albums and football cards and family heirlooms are intermixed with a noxious cocktail of asbestos, gasoline and lead, a reality that will make cleanup extremely complicated.”
Stray asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye, usually only detectable through a microscope. They’re also sharp. Residents who stay in the area and breathe in debris-filled air can inhale loose fibers. Emergency responders such as firefighters also are at risk of asbestos exposure due to the nature of the job.
The Associated Press reports that the air quality index in some Southern California neighborhoods has reached hazardous levels. This index includes fine particles such as asbestos. Residents are taking precautions, wearing N95 masks and buying air purifiers.
Dr. Puneet Gupta, assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, told the Associated Press that the air quality may remain poor for a while after the wildfires stop.
If you would like to help people affected by the California wildfires, please go to the California Fire Foundation website.
Sources & Author
- What to know about the Los Angeles fires and California winds. CBS News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/california-fires-winds-updates/. Accessed: 01/13/2025.
- Safety Precautions and Ash Exposure Prevention. City of Pasadena. Retrieved from: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/city-manager/news/safety-precautions-and-ash-exposure-prevention/. Accessed: 01/11/2025.
- In Los Angeles, people snap up air filters and wear masks against smoke pollution. The Associated Press. Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-health-california-wildfire-air-quality-smoke-a77db04196ebfadd483527cc1cf2be71. Accessed: 01/11/2025.
- 16 dead, 16 missing as fire crews try to corral Los Angeles blazes before winds return this week. ABC News 7. Retrieved from: https://abc7ny.com/post/southern-california-flames-los-angeles-wildfires-death-toll-rises-crews-fight-heavy-winds-save-homes-landmarks/15792800/. Accessed: 01/11/2025.
- Once the Fires Are Out, California Must Remove Tons of Dangerous Debris. New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/11/us/california-fire-debris.html. Accessed: 01/13/2025.
- Early assessment of cancer outcomes in New York City firefighters after the 9/11 attacks: an observational cohort study. The Lancelet. Retrieved from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2960989-6/fulltext. Accessed: 07/02/2020.
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